Currently, the "hotel business" is rapidly adapting. While some hotels have had to close, for investors in this sector, this period presents a golden opportunity to acquire undervalued properties to strengthen their portfolios for the future. However, the design of buildings in 2021 must evolve to be modern and ready to meet future customer demands.

          TerraBKK spoke with Dr. Chakkrakrit Leungjaroenrat, Studio Director at Gensler (Thailand) Co., Ltd.Gensler , a company recognized as the world's number one in design by Architectural Record in 2020, who shared exclusive insights on hotel design for 2021.

About Gensler
Developing tools for planning and designing buildings for a diverse world.

Last year's COVID-19 crisis halted many operations. Several design firms seized this opportunity to enhance their tools for greater efficiency. Gensler is one of the most notable examples, having spent last year improving its tools, enabling designers to leverage data to drive design for neighborhoods, buildings, and interiors quickly. This also allows for a complete project visualization at a human scale, enhancing the ability to design for diverse groups of people, as referenced by www.fastcompany.com.

3 RE Strategies Hotels Must Adapt to Right Now

          It must be acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all businesses, including hotels, which have faced direct consequences, leading many to close. Existing hotels must now plan how to operate moving forward. Gensler has designed buildings in various regions, including the Middle East and the United States, giving us experience and insight that hotels must adapt through 3 REs.

         The first is Reinvest because the hotel business is currently sluggish. For hotel operators with capital, this is a great opportunity as confidence begins to return with the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines. In the near future, whether short-term or long-term, people will start traveling more, necessitating a reevaluation of travel patterns.

Therefore, hotel operators must prepare by improving their buildings to meet health standards, with each hotel chain having its own unique concept.

       

           The second is Repurpose by transforming hotel accommodations into workspaces or learning areas for children. If the economy is struggling, hotels can renovate and sell rooms to investor clients, guaranteeing rental returns.

 

             And finally, Reinvent means rethinking everything. Previously, customers stayed in hotels and traveled to various attractions. During COVID, some people desire more private travel experiences. Therefore, hotels might adapt by offering personalized tour packages to meet customer needs in the New Normal or partnering with local attractions and producers to allow community members to sell their products, generating additional income for nearby communities.

How Should Hotels Be Designed Post-COVID-19?

           Thailand is a country with a significant number of foreign workers. During lockdowns, this group could not travel, and most hotels are designed in a modern style, which does not appeal to them. Therefore, to stimulate domestic tourism, hotels must create a character that appeals to tourists, similar to how people in Bangkok and other regions seek new experiences. If hotels can develop in line with traditional culture, they will stand out.

         In the past, Gensler has worked on two aspects simultaneously: data and design, integrating them harmoniously while conducting research. We believe that in the future, we should consider three main aspects:

          The first is Self. New hotels or existing ones that need improvement must consider the current society where individuals prioritize themselves. We need to understand the specific needs of each customer. For example, if a customer is interested in health and wellness, what products or services do we have to support their health needs?

          The second is Place, the location of the hotel. Hotels rely heavily on their environment. How can building design respond to the surrounding environment? Nowadays, tourists are increasingly concerned about sustainability, and products used must be environmentally friendly. Moving forward, this aspect must be emphasized, along with maintaining the surrounding environment to enhance the hotel's image.

          Finally, when we travel, "family" and "business" cannot be separated. Gensler believes that when people want to leave their homes and relax in hotels, what changes must hotels make? Hotels must adapt to blend relaxation and work, which is a new trend. Many hotels in the Middle East have adopted this concept.

This concept will also require spaces for children, who will need to engage in online learning in hotels, necessitating more than just a Kids Club but areas for learning. Historically, most hotels have not provided such spaces, so implementing this concept could significantly enhance the hotel's appeal.

 

Gensler has developed the G Blox tool for planning and designing buildings, enabling designers to use data to drive design for neighborhoods, buildings, and interiors quickly. It also allows for a complete project visualization at a human scale, enhancing the ability to design for diverse groups of people. Information from archinect.com